Clinical findings in dogs with incidental adrenal gland lesions determined by ultrasonography: 151 cases (2007–2010)

Abstract

IAGLs were more likely in dogs ≥ 9 years of age. On the basis of this small data set, malignancy should be suspected for IAGLs ≥ 20 mm in maximum dimension.

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography of adrenal glands in healthy adult dogs

“…IAGL with increased size (>¬ 20 mm in maximum dimension) and vascular invasion may indicate the presence of malignant neoplasms in the canine adrenal detected by ultrasound exam, however, smaller lesions which do not show changes in echogenicity and echotexture may be undetectable by this imaging method (Cook et al 2014). Considering that the adrenal abnormalities in dogs have different histopathological and tissue structures (e.g., neoplasia, hyperplasia, cysts and other), any modification on the tissue stiffness observed during the course of adrenal diseases in dogs may be effectively monitored with the ARFI imaging, increasing the accuracy of the ultrasonographic technique for detecting an array of splenic disorders in dogs.…”

“…Some factors that decrease the accuracy of ultrasound technique to assess the adrenal glands of canines are: imaging methods are highly observer-dependent (poor reproducibility), meaning that measurements can depend on the expertise of the observer; the measurements vary according to biological variations such as age, sex and body weight; limited diagnosis and differentiation for incidental adrenal gland lesions (IAGL) (Mogicato et al 2011;Cook et al 2014); demonstrating the relevance of the introduction of new ultrasound techniques, such as elastography, to improve the accuracy of ultrasonographic examination of the adrenals.…”

“…In addition to the abnormalities above mentioned, ultrasonography has assisted in the detection of incidental adrenal gland lesion (IAGL), also called incidentalomas, either in humans (Slapa et al 2014) and animals (Cook et al 2014), however the definitive diagnosis of these lesions remains a challenge for the ultrasound technique, requiring invasive methods for diagnosis. As an alternative for the diagnosis of IAGL, Slapa et al (2015) have considered elastography as a potential and important technique for the suitable diagnosis and the differentiation of solid and cystic adrenal lesions in humans.…”

“…Currently, ultrasonographic exam of adrenal glands has become part of abdominal scanning of canine patients with suspected endocrine disease, enabling the identification of these structures, their ultrasonographic description (echogenicity and echotexture) and biometric measurements (Cook et al 2014). This technique is described in the literature as a useful imaging modality in the diagnostic workup of canine patients with adrenal neoplasms of the cortex and medulla, hypoadrenocorticism or hyperadrenocorticism and aiding in differentiation of pituitarydependent hyperadrenocorticism (PDH) from adrenal-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH) (Douglass et al 1997;Choi et al 2011;Chalus et al 2013).…”

Treatment of canine and feline hyperadrenocorticism: trilostane and the alternatives

“…Adrenal tumour invasion and/or metastatic disease are used to differentiate adrenal cortical adenomas from carcinoma in human pathology, and an adrenal mass ≥2 cm is likely to be malignant in canine medicine (Cook et al, 2014). In the absence of these fea-tures, the Weiss system, which assesses nine different histopatho-logical features, is commonly used in human pathology to assess adrenal tumour malignancy (Weiss, 1984).…”